Lovely President MARGARET HIGGINS encouraged us to hit the delicious buffet early, featuring grilled chicken, fish, pasta, etc.! Yummy! We have an exciting, fully packed, sea of red room hinting at the upcoming theme and moved quickly to get to the main program. Pledge of Allegiance, skipped the song, and immediately slowed for a moment of somber silence for the passing of Mitch Pisik’s mother, Barbara Rubin Pisik, who was 89 year of age.
And then an uplifting inspirational moment by cheerful BRITTANY BATTLE encouraging BEAR DOWN in honor of our esteemed UofA guest speakers! The Tucsonans famous words to our local team’s fight song sprang from the 1952 UofA’s Band Director Jack Lee from the infamous last words of then car accident injured team quarterback to his coach, to tell the team to Bear Down!
Calming DAN KALM thanked our numerous guests and for a full acknowledgement, had them all stand up so we could properly welcome them all at once with big applause! Lots of great looking folks, all encouraged to join our awesome club – love it!
MARGARE
T introduced “shipping means transport, not necessarily on boats” Port of Tucson Superman and member MIKE LEVIN who generously sponsored today’s delicious Wildcat lunch meeting! The Port of Tucson started by MIKE’s Dad back in 1981 and remains a family business through incredible growth. Though not initially, Mike and his family caught Wildcat fever and are now season ticketholders to UofA basketball, football, track & field, etc. Love the support!
T introduced “shipping means transport, not necessarily on boats” Port of Tucson Superman and member MIKE LEVIN who generously sponsored today’s delicious Wildcat lunch meeting! The Port of Tucson started by MIKE’s Dad back in 1981 and remains a family business through incredible growth. Though not initially, Mike and his family caught Wildcat fever and are now season ticketholders to UofA basketball, football, track & field, etc. Love the support!
Past president and Wildcat Science guy BOB LOGAN immediately raised his already boisterous tone to shout out gratitude to the multiple UofA coaches in our audience. Their accomplishments enthusiastically underscored for us rabid fans! And then a similarly exciting introduction of the UofA President Robert Robbins who was greeted and welcomed with a standing ovation!
Visibly surprised by the very warm reception, President Robbins noted he wished more of the UofA faculty senate were there to witness! And he did not shy from the “elephant in the room” financial challenge the UofA faces. Since 1885 the UofA has periodically faced significant hurdles and overcome them all. He promised to condense his 42 slide presentation of their strategic plan to just half his time, to open it up to thoroughly answer any questions we have.Prior to the recent financial deficit, President Robbins and his team put together a $3B capital campaign for which they have already raised $2.2B and expect to significantly exceed their fundraising goal. The capital is to support 5 pillars of their strategic plan: 1) Wildcat Journey (increasing already high student re-enrollment and graduation rates); 2) Grand Challenges (staying #1 in Astronomy / Planetary Science, Hydrology, Optical Sciences, Dance, and expanding); 3) Arizona Advantage (Hispanic & Native American studies); 4) Arizona Global; 5) Institutional Excellence (operational efficiencies).
President Robbins explained the 5% structural deficit of $177m arose from a lack of modern controls and tools. They hired Desiree Ree Francais who turned around similar problems at UNLV and who will do the same for the UofA. Budget deficits have happened in the past, notably in the 80s and 90s and the UofA survived and thrived after those as it will after this one. With questioning from our members, President Robbins explained further, the average in-state tuition is $5k and out-of-state $45k. Historically the UofA kept in-state low by encouraging and offering more financial aid to out-of-state students to subsidize in-state. But that model was over-used as the UofA simply grew in enrollment and top-heavy administration year after year. Today’s deficit is a call to action to look at every administrative position, starting with numerous VPs down to Managers.
The UofA is the only university allowed to run NASA missions, twice! Most recently with the successful Osiris Rex mission that intercepted an asteroid, touched down, scooped a sample, and returned to earth. Goal of analyzing the samples is info on the two main questions of scientists: How did the universe start, and is there other life out there?
President Robbins expressed his profound gratitude to the generous alumni who continue huge financial support to retain key folks in the academic and athletic departments! On behalf of our beloved Rotary, BOB LOGAN invited President Robbins to become an honorary member!
Wildcat fan BOB LOGAN continued with introductions, rallying our audience with the re-play of a viral MC Hammer dancing video of our next guest showing off to his fellow coaches and team players at practice, Alonzo Carter! Not only did he once back-up dance for MC Hammer, but grateful Coach Carter was also Assistant Head Coach at San Jose State and at McClarens High School, he sold a 1987 Corvette to pay for his High School teams uniforms!
Coach Carter talked about his family and how connections through family and football, particularly in his career, lifted him further with opportunity. Consequently, he is big on giving back to the local community to carry that generosity forward. When asked if the Name Image Likeness politics would continue to hinder athletes participating at local charity events, he gave his cell phone number to the audience, saying he does not care about all that. If someone calls him, he will be there with 10 players! Coach Carter promised to “take care of business” when it comes to playing that other AZ team a little north! His biggest challenge is roster retention, and he is ready to get the new players prepared!
President Robbins and Coach Carter signed “Let’s Play Football” for our Make Way for Books library. Avid 2-wheeled motor enthusiast DAN KALM did the raffle and I did not win. Which is my own darn fault, because I forgot to buy raffle tickets. Never again!
Past President JEN HOFFMAN and SEAN HOFFMAN revealed the Corvette and thanked MIKE ANDERSON and his family for securing another very cool Corvette for this year’s car show raffle. I saw it parked outside and it is a beautiful burgundy red color convertible that my beloved and I would look awesome driving! Definitely buying some raffle tickets for that! And big thanks to all the other generous sponsors stepping up once again!
VIC JACOBS gave the update on March Madness and the winning teams and super outgoing JONI CONDIT is leading the members with new members! Way to go JONI! The winning team of our March Madness membership drive gets a private party in George Larsen’s garage among a beautiful selection of classic American rolling history!
Cheerful BRITTANY toasted the close of a particularly fun meeting with “BEAR DOWN” !
